In this tiny book called Didache or in the life-changing magazine called Feast (formerly Kerygma), we read of many miracles. Small and big—they leave us in awe of the power of God at work in people’s lives.

In our own little world, too, God’s miracles come on a daily basis. Sometimes we recognize them, most times we take them for granted. Like the air we breathe freely (when many are struggling to breathe in their hospital beds), or that we are still able to wake up each morning (when many don’t) and earn from our jobs or businesses (when many have to beg in the streets for their survival).

Peter, for his part, also saw and experienced many miracles in his life. He saw Jesus heal his mother-in-law. Or in today’s Gospel, he witnessed how their nets almost broke because of a large catch after they obeyed Jesus’ command to lower their nets. That drove Peter to fall at the knees of Jesus.

How about you and me—do we give thanks and glory to God for His deeds in our life, whether big or small?

Tess V. Atienza (theresavatienza@gmail.com)

reflect

Each day, take a few moments to review how God made Himself present to you, then give Him due thanks and glory.

Dear Jesus, train my eyes to see You and Your miracles in my life each day. Amen.

Saint Rosalia, pray for us.

Saint Paul offers a wonderful prayer for the Christians at Colossae. He asks God to fill them with knowledge of His will by giving them spiritual insight and wisdom. Let us also pray to know God’s will and fulfill the work He has for us each day. This way, we will abundantly bear fruit for His glory.

⁹ Brothers and sisters: From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding ¹⁰ to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. ¹³ He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 98:2-3, 3-4, 5-6

R: The Lord has made known his salvation.

² The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. ³ He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. ⁴ Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R) ⁵ Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. ⁶ With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the Lord. (R)

Gospel | Luke 5:1-11

Peter had been fishing all night and he had caught nothing. When Jesus finished teaching the crowds, He told Peter to cast out his net for a catch of fish. At first, Peter was reluctant to do what Jesus said, yet he overcame his doubts and obeyed the Lord. Immediately, he and his companions caught a huge quantity of fish, so much so that their nets were breaking. This story shows the importance of listening to Jesus and following Him, especially for our ministries to be fruitful.

Gospel Acclamation

Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.

1 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. ² He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. ³ Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. ⁴ After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” ⁶ When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. ⁷ They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. ⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 9 For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, ¹⁰ and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” ¹¹ When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Reflect:

What has Jesus asked you to do this week? 

Are you reluctant or eager to do what He asked? Why?

Read the Bible in one year! Read JEREMIAH 11 - 14 today.

Our First Reading today teaches us a beautiful prayer that we often forget or have never thought of: “That you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:9-10).

Saint Paul wrote to the Colossians while in prison, worried at the reports reaching him of how they were “seduced” by some teachers, who were encouraging them to adopt ascetic practices like appeasing angelic powers. The same thing still happens today. Many Christians are being seduced into the New Age thinking or other esoteric ideas that are directly opposite to the teachings of Jesus and the Church. Hence, there is a need to pray for others to be filled with the knowledge of God. 

We need not be all-knowing like God (omniscient) but simply be open to discern His divine will. We need to follow God and ask what He wants from us without doubt and apprehension, like Simon Peter in the Gospel today who obeyed Jesus’ command to cast their nets into the deep despite not catching anything at all the night before.

To be filled with the knowledge of God is to have the spiritual wisdom and understanding to see our sinfulness and weaknesses.

To be filled with the knowledge of God is to seek meaning and fulfillment in life, not just to have material things and pleasures which we will readily abandon once we decide to follow Jesus.

To be filled with the knowledge of God is to deepen our personal relationship with Him through a prayer life that is more than mere recitation of formula prayers or doing certain rituals, but awareness of God in Christ Jesus.       

Fr. Nick Lalog

reflection questions

Are there occasions when you are seduced to believe or follow worldly knowledge, either for acquiring spirituality or amassing material wealth or fame? Do you consult horoscopes? Have you tried New Age practices or joined organizations banned by the Church like masonry, believing more their proponents than Jesus and His Church?

Forgive us, dear Father, for the many times we felt and believed that we knew so much, that we knew better than anyone including You. Fill us with Your knowledge so we will seek meaning and fulfillment in life. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ______________________________________